Bail set at $5,000 for Lakeville dad police say abandoned son

Steven Alexander Cross, 60, made his first court appearance this morning in Minnesota on a gross misdemeanor child neglect charge. A district court judge ruled that in order to be released from county jail, Cross must pay $5,000 bail with conditions, including not leaving the state and remaining law abiding, or $6,000 bail without conditions. (Dakota County Sheriff's Dept.)

A father accused of abandoning his 11-year-old son after losing their Lakeville home will have to pay at least $5,000 bail if he wants to get out of jail, a Dakota County District Judge said today.

Steven Alexander Cross, 60, made his first court appearance this morning in Minnesota on a gross misdemeanor child neglect charge. A district court judge ruled that in order to be released from county jail, Cross must pay $5,000 bail with conditions, including not leaving the state and remaining law abiding, or $6,000 bail without conditions.

Cross "wasn't aware of any criminal charges when he left the state of Minnesota," his attorney said in court.

Cross returned to Minnesota on Friday after extradition from San Luis Obispo County Jail in California, where he was arrested on a warrant stemming from the pending charge.

Authorities also are investigating Cross on possible fraud. The investigation remained ongoing today, said Monica, Jensen, spokesperson for the Dakota County Attorney's Office.

Cross was financially desperate when he fled his home July 18, leaving his son a note telling him to live with a neighbor, Cross told a California reporter after his arrest. The boy is temporarily living with his aunt. The court will decide a permanent placement for him based on a child-protection investigation.

Cross had full-custody of his son before disappearing to California.

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Police tracked him to several cities, including Morro Bay and Carmel. His last stop was the coastal artist colony of Cambria, where he worked at the deli in Soto's Market. Cross reportedly was living in his van, authorities said.

In notes left for his son and written to an ex-girlfriend, Cross suggested that he was suicidal. Today, the prosecution noted in court that Cross "was apparently suicidal" after he fled.